Updated December 2006; please check online for occasional updates

 

Snapshot         Bacchanalia Gala Dinner and Auction is Canada’s premier auction of rare and extraordinary wines from private cellars and wineries from around the world. A one-off 12-litre bottle of Tantra 2005 from Leopard Frog Vineyards, created especially for the Bacchanalia Gala auction, tops the list of more than 50 large format bottles on auction. Two Champagnes are served at the opening reception and two wines are paired with each of the five courses served at the gourmet dinner, which takes place at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver. Bacchanalia Gala is the crown jewel of the 29^th Vancouver Playhouse International Wine Festival (March 26-April 1), a major fundraiser for the Playhouse Theatre Company. The 2006 gala auction raised $319,000 net for the Playhouse. (See 2006 records below.)

 

Date/place       March 28, 5:45 p.m. at The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver, 900 West Georgia St., Vancouver, BC

 

Tickets             Invitations to buy tickets/tables are mailed in January; tickets go on sale January 22

                        From January 22 to February 15 - $325 per person; tables of eight $2,600

                        From February 16 - $350 per person; tables of eight $2,800

                        For information: 604-872-6622 x 246; gala@playhousewinefest.com

                        Watch for more details at www.playhousewinefest.com

 

Emcees            Bill Richardson, broadcaster and author

                        Jurgen Gothe, award-winning broadcaster and performer

 

Auction            The auction has three components: (1) Four silent auction stations that close at staggered times throughout the evening, including a One Bid auction.  (2) A wine cellar silent auction which features two staggered groups of lots; the items are unusual and rare bottles of wine or collections provided by wineries and individual donors. (3) A live auction, after dinner, led by Barry Scott of Maynards Industries, featuring exquisite wines, dinners, trips and experiences revolving around wine and food.

 

Other items      In addition to wine, the auction includes:

§         Gourmet extravaganzas donated by celebrated local restaurants, chefs and sommeliers to take place in the successful bidder’s private residence.

§         A superb wine tour of Australia and New Zealand courtesy of Pernod Ricard Pacific for 11 days/10 nights. Participating wineries are Jacob's Creek - Barossa Valley; Wyndham Estate - Hunter Valley; Brancott – Marlborough, NZ;  Stoneleigh – Marlborough, NZ.    This $10,000 package for two includes airfare, accommodation, $200/day for meals, transportation to and from the wineries and winery visits/tours. 

§         A wonderful $5,000 trip for two to New Zealand, including airfare and winery tours of Brancott and Stoneleigh.

§         Restaurant dinners, winery tours and other wine and food oriented delights.

 

Raffle               Qantas Airways, Goway Travel and Wine Australia have teamed up to provide an incredible raffle prize of a trip for two to Australia. Airfare, wine tours and all ground transfers included. Attendance at gala not required to purchase tickets. Details: gala@playhousewinefest.com.

 

Menu/Wines     The gourmet five-course dinner is created by The Fairmont Hotel Vancouver’s executive chef Robert LeCrom. The menu will be advised when available. The gala begins with a reception featuring two Champagnes. Each of the five dinner courses is paired with two wines.

 

Reception wines

Lanson Black Label Brut Champagne NV (France) www.lanson.com

Taittinger Prestige Rosé Brut Champagne NV (France) www.taittinger.com

           

Dinner wines

La Chablisienne Chablis 2005 (France); www.chablisienne.com

Château de la Gardine CNDP Cuvée Tradition 2004 (France); www.gardine.com

Cookoothama Darlington Point Botrytis Semillon 2005 (Nugan Estate) (Australia); www.nuganestate.com

Maximin Grünhauser Kabinett Riesling 2002 (Germany)

Peter Lehmann Eight Songs Barossa Shiraz 2002 (Australia); www.peterlehmannwines.com.au

Plantagenet Great Southern Riesling 2005 (Australia); www.plantagentwines.com

Rosemount Estate Show Reserve Chardonnay, Hunter Valley 2005 (Australia); www.rosemountestate.com

Torres Mas La Plana 2003 (Spain); www.torres.es

Wolf Blass Grey Label Cabernet Sauvignon, Langhorne Creek 2003 (Australia); www.wolfblass.com

Yalumba Museum Release Old Reserve Muscat NV (Australia); www.yalumba.com

 

Committee       The gala is chaired by Nancy Burke. Larry Burr is chair of the wine committee which also includes Alastair Carruthers, Joe Chaput, Sid Cross, Joan Cross, Deborah Markle, Jim Robertson, Dave Spurrell, Rick Underwood and Gordon Wilcox. The epicurean committee is chaired by Nanette Der and includes Katrina Carroll-Foster, Nathan Fong, Denise Meade, Edie McCaffrey and Kenn Hamlin. Ingrid Taylor is the display/graphics committee member, Lauren Horii is volunteer coordinator and Joyce Yurik and Barbara Inglis are members at large.

 

Sponsors          Presenting sponsor: Goldcorp Inc.

Wine Cellar sponsor: Union Securities

Theme Set sponsor: Canaccord Capital Corporation

Theme Set sponsor: Deloitte & Touche LLP

Theme Set sponsor Macquarie Capital (Canada) Ltd.

Exclusive water sponsor: San Pellegrino

Theme Set sponsor: Vancouver Wine Vault

Festival presenting sponsor: Chubb Insurance Company of Canada

 

Fundraising     Since inception in 1979, the festival has raised $5.2 million for the Playhouse Theatre Company, Western Canada’s largest theatre company dedicated exclusively to producing works of the contemporary repertoire. The festival’s support has helped enable the company to mount 197 theatrical productions and create extensive educational and community outreach programs.

 

2006 Records   The auction portion of the 2006 Bacchanalia Gala Dinner and Auction raised $319,000.

The top three auction lots at 2006 gala were: a five-litre bottle of Château Mouton Rothschild 2000 ($32,000); wine and dinner for eight, prepared by Iron Chef Rob Feenie of Lumière ($30,000); and twelve bottles of 1982 Château Haut Brion Graves ($19,000).